Century Link Field

Brains vs. Muscle.

Some photos from last month's highlights... didn't realize I forgot to post these. Wayne's first soccer game and Halloween at Kona Kitchen. I was Hermione, Wayne was a kid pretending to be Superman. People don't dress as slutty up here, I think it has to do with the weather.

When my mom came to visit last week, we road tripped it down to Portland. We had one goal... shop, SHOP our little wallets out. With no sales tax (seriously EVERY state should have no sales tax), we headed to the Woodburn Outlets because they had a The North Face store! When I was in Hawaii I'd see all the mainland kids with North Face backpacks, and think, North Face, never heard of it, is it big or something?!? Moving here, I learned just how essential AND expensive North Face is. Everyday at work, I'd pass our sportswear department and longingly gaze at the down and weather proof North Face jackets. I just started working, there is no way I could afford one, even with discount! Unfortunately tho I left both of my debit cards and ID at home, thank goodness I had my credit card. We were able to find a nice North Face down jacket, an amazing Nike 6.0 raincoat, and a few pairs of roxy jeans. I also scored some good accessories too. We got both jackets for under $200! Amazing right? I was in shopping heaven, until we headed back into Portland and hit up Lloyd Center. Now I haven't been to Lloyd Center in 6+ years, and it wasn't how I remember it. I remember this great big mall, hustling and bustling with great stores, the ice rink in the middle. But when we went, it was kind of... well how do I put this politely... ghetto. It was worse than Pearlridge, and it was empty, lots of stores had closed down. and it seemed smaller. I told my mom I think it's because Ala Moana expanded, my mall standards are too high. So far my favorite malls/shopping areas I adore are (in order): 1, South Coast Plaza. 2, Fashion Show Mall. 3, Ala Moana. 4, Walnut Creek. 5, Soho. 6, Irvine Spectrum.

Thank goodness for facebook status updates, because my friend Kaliko commented on my Portland update and reminded me to hit up Voodoo Donut. I had seen the donut joint many, many, many times on The Food Network and Travel Channel, and me being a donut lover I had to try it out. I had the Maple Bacon Bar, and yes it did live up to the hype. There were so many interesting flavors, I'll have to go back soon for a visit!

A few photos from Sunday's field trip to Fremont and Gasworks Park. More to come later, as my mom visited for over a week :) and I was able to get some good field trips in with her. The holidays are coming up fast, Thanksgiving, my birthday, Christmas, soon it will be 2012. Where did 2011 go. I noticed I didn't blog much, too busy trying make the most out of every minute of life.
Weather has been sucky lately, but I've noticed if it rains it's not as cold as when it isn't raining. I've been contemplating taking a photography class in the spring. I wonder if UW has an outreach college like at UH. haha. The best thing about the weather is wearing all the nice fall clothes - boots, sweaters, tights, knee socks. I love it.
Work is busy busy busy. Who knew department store/mall working is more tiring than supervising a buncha monkeys at billabong.

The Seattle adventures continue! Last night I went to my first MLS match at CenturyLink Field, the San Jose Earthquakes vs. Seattle Sounders FC. It was the final home match of the season and I went with my old Bong friend Richie, we also met up with my cousin Grant, his wife Michelle, and their daughter Kaiea. It was also Kasey Keller's last regular season match, he's retiring. Truthfully he was the only guy I knew on the team, from watching US soccer, so I was pretty stoked.
I really didn't know what to expect, I've only been to UH Wahine matches in college to watch Natasha Kai and my classmate Joelle. And when I worked at the Honolulu Advertiser, we only used Major League Soccer standings and results when we needed a space filler upper for Record. And I've only been to MLB and NBA games. When I heard over 60,000+ tickets were sold, I thought, this is big, really big. First of all, these crazy fans they walk from Pioneer Square to the field. This flood of people, chanting, all marching. Inside the stadium, the whole bottom levels stand the entire game. They have all these crazy rituals and chants, like this one:



It was an intense match. And we were down for most of the game, the Earthquakes were up 1-0 until the 82nd minute, Sammy Ochoa scored on an assist from Mauro Rosales. Then in 87th minute Fredy Montero put the Saunders up 2-1, it was his 12th goal of the season. The stadium went NUTS!!! I am now a full fledged Seattle Sounders FC fan, totally going to look into getting season tickets. I never got why the rest of the world was so crazy over soccer, no I get it. It's ridiculously exciting and intense, and let's face soccer players are waaaaaaay hotter than baseball and basketball players combined. :)

Brrrr it's cold. I have been complaining for the last hour or so that it's cold, as I sit wearing a tank top and some gilly hicks shorts. Idiot I am, but I refuse to spend days in sweat pants. I refuse. We have heaters here in the apartment, but I'm scared to use them, I never used one ever, what if it gets too hot. Seriously I get how awesome Snuggies could be because I totally want one right now, my arms are getting cold while I type this blog.
This week has been interview week, so far 3 interviews, 1 job fair, 2 more interviews planned for Thursday and Friday. I did accept a part time position somewhere, which I start on Tuesday. Or Monday? Eek better double check that one. I still want something full time with better pay, so I'm gonna keep applying, and keep interviewing. But at least its a start.
The photos above are from our field trip to Port Angeles for their Dungeness Crab Fest. We had some amazing food: Scallops and rice pilaf, seafood pizza, roasted corn on the cob, crab cakes, crab bisque, crab quiche, and the most amazing pumpkin pie. So much good food!! On the way back I was able to get a shot of the Seattle skyline at night from the ferry.
Oh and can you smell it... it's one of my favorite times of the year.... it's post season baseball time! :) Unfortunately none of my teams has moved on to the division championships... Mariners (not even close),  Red Sox (robbed at the end of the season), and the Phillies (lost in the NLDS to King Al and his damn Cardinals). So I am currently routing for the Tigers, because 1) they defeated the Yankees in the ALDS and 2) I think they have the hottest pitching rotation in the league.... Seriously look at this:

On the left is Doug Fister, to the right Rick Porcello, and then add Justin Verlander... DAMN Tigers. Fister was actually just traded to Tigers in August, prior to that he was with the Mariners. How I missed him on the Mariners roster is beyond me? Probably too busy stalking Ichiro, that's why. And whats worse, he pitched for Fresno State, meaning, I've seen him pitch during college too. I was probably too busy checking out our own baseball team. hehe. 

 

It's been 3 weeks here in Seattle, still jobless. Currently praying for a position at Nordstrom, in their web fulfillment department. Seriously CROSSING MY FINGERS on this one!!! I also recently discovered the public library which is within walking distance. Super stoked because I left home not finishing Harry Potter. Seriously Order of the Phoenix was the worst in the series, I could not get past that book. So I skipped ahead and am currently in the middle of Half-Blood Prince (which Priya will probably shake her head at, she hates when I skip!). Anybody have any good book suggestions? Don't know what I'll read next after I get through Deathly Hallows.
Decided to give you a tour of my small room, I swear it's like half the size of my old room in the Citron house. I've finally graduated from a twin size bed to full.... whoa whoa talk about growing up. I decided to stick with the NYC theme I had from before, found a great map of the city at iKea, and my dad mailed over my Breakfast at Tiffany's poster. Actually my family has been great with mailing over some stuff from home that makes my room 10 times more homely. Blankets, my clock radio, a few of my favorite stuffed animals, my curtains from the Citron house, trinkets, etc. My bookshelf has a mini Star Wars theme, with some of my favorite toys on display (Obi-Wan nesting dolls, R2-D2 action figure, my toys of Goofy and Stitch as Chewy and Yoda), accented with framed pictures of family and friends. My laptop takes center stage, as it also serves as my "TV" so I can watch movies in bed. Sadly I've been downgraded to 1 small closet, which is only half full as most of my clothes are still back home. I found this great collage picture holder from Urban Outfitters for only $5! I filled it with photos of back home-beaches, surf, turtles, and friends. Even though my room is pretty small, like Tim Gunn says I made it work!

And so it begins.... Seattle life. Many people have asked why Seattle? I'm beginning to think that myself... First off...well let's be real here. If Wayne wasn't moving to Seattle, I probably wouldn't have moved either. Second, I have a few cousins and friends here (Richie and J-Lab call me up btw!). Third, I love Nordstrom and the Mariners, both of which Seattle is home to. The third seems like a silly reason but, it's so true.

Seattle life has been ... ok, so far. It's only been a week and I constantly have to remind myself this is not a vacation. I have to find an actual job, set up an actual bank account, and I actually have to pay rent for my 2 bedroom apartment. The apartment was a great find, just outside of the U-District, across the street from a Safeway, near a main road (which makes sleeping feel like I'm back at the Citron house because I used to be able to hear all the going ons on Kalakaua). The thing I'm most pleased about was my furniture choices, thank you ikea! But my walls are still bare, a constant reminder that I'm new here, and that the apartment and I are still getting to know each other.

I can't wait to find a job and start making new friends (as in new people to play beer pong/kings cup, watch football games on Sunday with). Haven't seen any potential bfs, honestly I haven't seen anyone remotely attractive looking. Also I hear Washington was voted one of the worst dressed states in America, I can totally see why. I get it's cold and dreary but do your clothes have to be the same? I decided to spruce up my cold weather attire with a cute bright red thrifted gap coat I picked up at the Buffalo Exchange, and some cute ivory and navy rainboots. Take that non-fashionable Washington!

I do miss home... a LOT! There are a lot of H people (attitude wise), people just aren't as friendly here, what is it about Hawaii that people are just happier. And don't say it's the aloha spirit... my guess is that the island is so small that everyone pretty much knows everyone and if you're not friendly to someone you could probably get couple slaps from your friend's-aunty's-second nephew's-yard man's-sister. I miss the sun, and I swear my tan is starting to fade, crap. I miss my family and friends, I miss Friday and Saturday nights with Priya and Leanne. 

I think once I get a job, I'll be much more at piece with this decision to move. I've been applying like crazy to Nordstrom and Starbucks (in-office jobs), trying real hard not to get back into retail. So wish me luck. And hopefully I'll be able to update this thing more often (I know, I know, totally slacked during the summer, I couldn't help it, there were dance floors to be danced on, and gladiator shots to be taken!).